This year marks Aaron Boone’s first time managing an All-Star Game, and he wanted some help from a legendary former manager. Boone invited Joe Torre, his old Yankees skipper, to join the American League coaching staff for the All-Star Game in Atlanta next month — and Torre happily accepted.
Torre, turning 85 on July 18, led the Yankees to six World Series appearances and four championships between 1996 and 2008, including the 2003 team on which Boone played. Boone famously hit a key home run off Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, helping the Yankees reach the World Series — Torre’s final postseason run in a storied 29-year Hall of Fame career.
Why is Torre coaching the American League at the All-Star Game? Having spent six decades in professional baseball, Torre currently serves as a special assistant to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred since 2020. With 2,326 career wins (the fifth-most in MLB history) and four World Series titles, Torre’s presence is invaluable. He also shares ties to both the Yankees and Braves, having played for and managed Atlanta before his tenure with New York.
Boone has welcomed Torre to Yankees spring training the past two years as a special instructor — Torre has even pulled a pitcher from a spring game — so Boone’s request for him to join the All-Star coaching staff at Truist Park on July 15 was an easy one.
“I asked him if he’d consider coming, and he immediately said ‘Yes!’ He seemed genuinely excited,” Boone told the New York Daily News. “He was really touched by the invitation, which couldn’t have gone better. I’m thrilled to have him with us.”
Torre’s involvement benefits more than just the Yankees, who lead the AL East. Boone recognizes how valuable it is for every American League player to learn from Torre.
“Our guys love being around him,” Boone said. “He’s just great to be around. Hopefully, the whole AL team will enjoy having him too.”
Torre’s playing career began with the Milwaukee Braves, continuing with the franchise’s move to Atlanta in 1966, before stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. He then went on to manage the Braves, Cardinals, Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers.
Other All-Star coaches include Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt for the AL, who led his team to the 2024 ALCS before the Yankees knocked them out in five games. The National League will be managed by Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, the reigning World Series champions, who invited Braves manager Brian Snitker and Miami Marlins’ Clayton McCullough as his assistants.
Though many players look forward to the All-Star break as a chance to rest, Boone — whose father Bob and grandfather Ray were both All-Star managers — is embracing the honor of managing the AL squad.
“I’m really excited,” Boone said. “The break is something a lot of us look forward to, but being part of the All-Star Game is a thrill. For many on our staff, it’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to share the field with the best players in the world.
“You’re usually competing against these guys, so getting to wear the same uniform for a bit is special. It’s a pause I’ll cherish, and I’m sure our staff will too.”
Leave a Reply